Candy | Chords + Lyrics
Intro
||: G | G | A | Bm :||
Yeah, hm.
Chorus 1
| G | G | A | Bm |
It’s like candy, I can feel it when you walk, even when you talk it takes over me.
| G | G | A | Bm Bb5 A5 Ab5 |
You’re so dandy, I wanna know, can you feel it too, just like I do? (Just like I do, hoo).
Verse 1
||: G | G | A | Bm :||
This stuff is starting now, it’s the same feeling I always seem to get around you.
There’s no mistaking, I’m clearly taken by the simple mere thought of you (oh).
Instrumental
| G | G | A | Bm Bb5 A5 Ab5 |
Verse 2 (as verse 1)
This stuff is starting now (this stuff is starting now). This stuff is starting now (oh). This stuff is starting now (hoo).
My eyes roll in my head. I toss and turn in my bed, in the morning when I think about you.
Verse 3
| G | G | A | Bm |
Yes, I do. Simply put, you’re the reason why, even though I’m real shy (real shy).
| G | G | A | Bm Bb5 A5 Ab5 |
I attempt to look my best for you. Indeed, I do (just for you).
| G | G | A | Bm |
‘Cause you affect me, fascinate me, I thank Heaven for the things that you do (for the things that you do).
Chorus 2
| G | G | A | Bm Bb5 A5 Ab5 |
It’s like candy (candy), oh. You sure are sweet, sweet (sweet).
| G | G | A | Bm |
You’re so dandy (dandy). You’re taking my appetite, but it’s all right.
Guitar solo
| G | G | A | Bm |
Chorus 3
| G | G | A | Bm |
It’s like candy (candy) (Ooh, vanilla, oh, chocolate). Look real nice (real nice), wrapped up tight.
| G | G |
You’re so dandy (dandy) (Would you mind if I had a little bit more of your time?).
| A | Bm Bb5 A5 Ab5 |
Giving me a heart attack, it’s the kind I like (oh, oh, oh).
Sax solo
| G N.C | N.C | (F#) G N.C | N.C |
| G | G | A | Bm |
It’s like candy (candy).
| G | G | A | Bm |
You’re so dandy (dandy). What you do (what you do).
| G | G | A | Bm |
| G | G | A | Bm Bb5 A5 Ab5 |
Verse 4
| G | G | A | Bm |
You’re like a brand new feeling (feeling), in a special way, a surprise package on a bright clear sunny day.
| G | G | A | Bm Bb5 A5 Ab5 |
You’re so dandy (dandy) and wrapped up tight. So good, so good (yeah, yeah, yeah).
Outro
| G | G |
Strawberry (strawberry), raspberry (raspberry) all those good things.
| A | Bm |
Violets and gumdrops, that’s what you’re saying to me, me (me, oh).
||: G | G | A | Bm :||
Sweet candy, candy.
It’s like candy (candy), sure seems like good candy to me (good candy to me), oh, baby (oh).
You’re so dandy, just keep doing what you do, baby (oh, yeah) (Doing to me, yeah, doing to me).
Candy Chords: Learn the progressions
Candy may have simple chords, but what Cameo does with them is anything but!
Usually, these chords move down from Bm – A – G, that’s VI – V – IV. One More Cup Of Coffee is just one example out of hundreds, although the key is different (Am, not Bm). All Along The Watchtower is another.
In Candy, we instead start on chord IV, the G chord, stay here for two bars, then go up to A, then Bm.
Apart from this G – A – Bm progression, we only have one addition and that’s the chromatic distorted guitar which appears once in a while taking us from Bm, back to G, like this:
| G (IV) | G | A (V) | Bm (VI) Bb5 (bVI) A5 (V) Ab5 (bV) |
I guess the most complicated thing about playing Candy’s chords/riffs is to know when this chromatic descending part appears.
To me, the best way to know is to not have a chart, but instead use Candy’s chords and lyrics (as you see above).
Obviously, you need to get the syncopation right, and also work out where on the neck it’s best to play Candy’s riff on the guitar. For that, you need TAB, here’s a link to the TAB lesson: Candy – Guitar Lesson with TAB.
The awesome sax solo, which is played by legendary Micahel Brecker makes me want to put together a step-by-step guitar lesson series on this song.
Until this has materialized, there is a video in the playlist that transcribed it. As it’s a saxophone, it’s transposed up a tone, those guys are so weird!
Should you want to play sax solos on the guitar already now, check Respect and Get Ready, I’ve done lessons for those.
Here’s a chord chart in which I’ve used text to describe the form and when to put the chromatic lines in.
Candy Chord Chart | PDF + iReal Pro
The challenge with Candy (apart from the solos!) is definitely when those chromatic lines appear. IN the chord chart above, I had to just write it using text, anything else was simply too complicated.
Should you want to download this chart, here’s a PDF: Candy Chord Chart PDF.
This chord chart was created using iReal Pro, here’s a link to that file: Candy iReal Pro.
Using this and the iRealPro app, you can change the key although I doubt that will ever be needed. If you want to, have a go at changing the layout, indicating when that chromatic line appears.
If you can make a better chord chart than me – do let me know!
Candy and the electric slide!
Released in 1986, Candy did reasonably well in the charts, it’s the tunes legacy since that is much more impressive.
You’ll still hear this Cameo classic played by DJs and clever bands today, almost three decades later.
The reason for this is, as it so often is, down to audience participation. A dance sequence called the electric slide which originated in line dancing featured in the movie The Best Man (1999) during the credits (see playlist above).
Since then, whenever a band plays it at a wedding, the crowd joins in!
The awesome sax solo, which is played by legendary Micahel Brecker makes me want to put together a step-by-step guitar lesson series on this tune.
Until that’s materialized, there’s a video in the playlist that transcribed it. As it’s a saxophone, it’s transposed up a tone, those guys are so weird!
If you want to play sax solos on the guitar already now, check Respect and Get Ready, I’ve done lessons for those.
Candy Chords | Related Pages
Candy | Guitar Lesson + TAB
With this guitar lesson, you can learn how to play Candy by Cameo using a chord analysis and TAB.
| G | G |
It’s like candy, I can feel it when you walk…
Five similar tunes | Chords + Lyrics
- Ain’t Nobody chords by Chaka Khan
- Get Lucky chords by Daft Punk
- Kiss chords by Prince
- On Broadway chords by George Benson
- Uptown Funk chords by Bruno Mars
Cameo tunes
Best known for their tunes Word Up and Candy, Cameo formed in 1974 and became one of the best funk bands around.
Candy has managed to remain relevant by having the dance routine The Electric Slide performed to it. Personally, I’m more into the sax solo by Michael Brecker.
Cameo on the web
About me | Dan Lundholm
This was a guitar lesson about Candy chords, by Dan Lundholm. Discover more about him and how you can learn guitar with Spytunes.
Most importantly, find out why you should learn guitar through playing tunes, not practising scales, and studying theory in isolation.
